The design quality in the public realm can have a profound effect on the quality of life
experienced within it. An environment in which people can feel safe and which helps to
foster a sense of civic pride within communities can have a positive effect in terms of
social cohesion and collective wellbeing. The research considers both the hard and soft
issues within this context exploring both aspects of the physical built environment as
well as the social element of communities.
The role of designers and design thinking in the 21'1 century extends far beyond the
traditional view of the creation of a manufactured object in terms of its form, function
and material. Product Designers now operate in a wider labour market and their skills
are utilised in service, interaction and experience design among others in a transdisciplinary
mode of design and design thinking. There is an opportunity in
regeneration for design thinking to assist in the design of urban environments which
positively impact on quality of life and deliver sustainable outcomes for communities.
This research investigates the case for design-led responses to regeneration and the
issues which it aims to address drawing on primary data collected from a workshop,
interviews and project all directed by the Author as well as case studies of UK and
European cities. The thesis also deals with the identification of a correlation between
quality of life and quality of environment, highlights the visual impact of the
environment and considers retrospectively the impact of major events and flagship
buildings.
From this research thesis offers Design and Implementation Guidelines with regards to
regeneration for the benefit of communities and concludes that design and design
thinking can have a positive impact in this area by utilising the skill set of designers and
the design process as a methodology. It is also suggested that cities must place greater
importance on the health and social issues which affect communities with the context
of regeneration and that the design process provides a platform from which to achieve
the case specific outcomes which are required in order to provide lasting and viable
solutions.